Tandem feeders help me!

[HappyChildminderBerkshire]

Does anyone here know whether each breast produces milk completely independently? I'm feeding my 4 month baby on one side only, and 2.5 year old on the other side, but she is starting to wean a bit (well I'm actually trying to night wean her, but that's another topic!!) and I'm so uncomfortable and swollen on that side. I'm just wondering, should I start feeding baby on that side to prevent mastitis? I actually prefer keeping him on one side, as then I know he's getting hindmilk each time, but I don't know whether my milk supply will regulate itself in the less used breast, over time?

I'm not an expert but I think each breast does regulate itself independently - but happy to be corrected if anyone know more. I would think the major disagtvantage is that you are likely to end up looking quite lopsided - I don't know whether that bothers you.

But having said that I don't think there is any reason why you can't tandem nurse on two sides - I do. I feed the baby mainly in the day (on both breasts) and the toddler morning and evening. It's never occurred to me to worry about hindmilk, I feel that as long as the baby is getting a substantial feed off at least one breast then he'll get what he needs from from that, and therefore it can't hurt to offer the other.

After all, offering the other breast isn't going to subtract the hindmilk he's already drunk, iyswim?

As far as I understand it, the breasts work together at first, and then after a while, they work independently.

Women can feed from one side only which demonstrates this, I guess.

I would definitely put the baby on the other side to avoid blocked ducts and mastitis. That's the last thing you want!!

As theyoungvisiter says, I don't think it would do any harm for either nursling to feed off either side IYSWIM. If you are feeding the baby on demand then s/he will get what they need overall.

Good luck with the night weaning!

Thanks. Things have improved and my LO is down to a nap feed, bedtime feed, morning feed, and one sympathy feed at some awful hour of the night, so I'm not engorged anymore. Think I'll only move baby onto both sides when she weans completely, as its working so well this way - no jealousy and a happy toddler!

You don't have to worry about fore/hind milk...it is all milk !!! Yes, sometimes the milk may be slightly higher in fat content but with healthy children there is no need to think about it.